Key Terms and Definitions
(From the Myers textbook)
intelligence test: a method for assessing an individual's mental aptitudes and comparing them with those of others, using numerical scores
mental age: the chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance
Stanford-Binet test: Terman's revised edition of Binet's test in order to make it more compatible with American students
IQ (intelligence quotient): the ratio of mental age to chronological age, multiplied by 100
intelligence: a mental quality consisting of the abilities to learn from experience, solve problems, and adapt knowledge
factor-analysis: a statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (factors) on a test; used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie one's total score
general intelligence (g): from Spearman; an ability that underlies specific mental abilities; measured by every task on an intelligence test; the tendency for one to have many abilities
savant syndrome: when a person limited in mental ability has a specific, exceptional skill
emotional intelligence: the ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions
creativity: the ability to produce novel, valuable ideas
aptitude test: a test designed to predict a person's ability to learn
achievement test: a test designed to assess what a person has learned
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale: the most widely-used intelligence test; has verbal and performance subtests
standardization: a process of defining meaningful scores by comparing them with the performance of a pretested "standardization" group
normal curve: a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve; describes the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes
reliability: the extent to which a test yields consistent results; assessed by the consistency of scores on two halves of the test, on alternate forms, or by retesting
validity: the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to
content validity: the extent to which a test samples the behavior that is of interest
criterion: the behavior that a test is designed to predict; a measure used to define whether a test has validity
predictive validity: success with which a test predicts the behavior that it is designed to predict
mental retardation: a condition of limited mental ability; varies from mild to profound
down syndrome: a condition caused by an extra chromosome in one's genetic makeup
tracking: giving "gifted" kids more academic enrichment opportunities
stereotype threat: a self-containing concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype
(From the Myers textbook)
intelligence test: a method for assessing an individual's mental aptitudes and comparing them with those of others, using numerical scores
mental age: the chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance
Stanford-Binet test: Terman's revised edition of Binet's test in order to make it more compatible with American students
IQ (intelligence quotient): the ratio of mental age to chronological age, multiplied by 100
intelligence: a mental quality consisting of the abilities to learn from experience, solve problems, and adapt knowledge
factor-analysis: a statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (factors) on a test; used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie one's total score
general intelligence (g): from Spearman; an ability that underlies specific mental abilities; measured by every task on an intelligence test; the tendency for one to have many abilities
savant syndrome: when a person limited in mental ability has a specific, exceptional skill
emotional intelligence: the ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions
creativity: the ability to produce novel, valuable ideas
aptitude test: a test designed to predict a person's ability to learn
achievement test: a test designed to assess what a person has learned
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale: the most widely-used intelligence test; has verbal and performance subtests
standardization: a process of defining meaningful scores by comparing them with the performance of a pretested "standardization" group
normal curve: a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve; describes the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes
reliability: the extent to which a test yields consistent results; assessed by the consistency of scores on two halves of the test, on alternate forms, or by retesting
validity: the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to
content validity: the extent to which a test samples the behavior that is of interest
criterion: the behavior that a test is designed to predict; a measure used to define whether a test has validity
predictive validity: success with which a test predicts the behavior that it is designed to predict
mental retardation: a condition of limited mental ability; varies from mild to profound
down syndrome: a condition caused by an extra chromosome in one's genetic makeup
tracking: giving "gifted" kids more academic enrichment opportunities
stereotype threat: a self-containing concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype
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